TISSUE EXPANSION

Tissue expansion allows adjacent soft tissue to be incorporated into the reconstruction of a large defect that cannot be closed primarily without undue tension. Since the donated tissue is from the same region as the defect site, appropriate color match and texture of the donor tissues are maintained. Additionally, tissue expansion can circumvent the need for more extensive surgeries including distant pedicled or free tissue flaps .Tissue expansion can safely be considered one of the major advances in reconstructive plastic surgery. The merits of the technique are supplying skin adjacent to the defect of similar color and texture with minimal donor site morbidity. However, in order to achieve the best possible result, the expanded flap must be mobilized maximally. Inability to perform this may impair the final result .